National Careers Week is the celebration of careers guidance and resources in education across the UK.To mark this week, Gateway College Careers have organised an ‘Alternative Work Experience’ week for our Science students to take part in – both at College and away from the classroom.
On Monday, the focus was on introducing the week’s activities, starting with visits from several guest speakers. First, there was a talk from LLEP (Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership) about the Labour Market. This was followed by a talk on Chemistry in Chocolate by Dr Josh Smalley, a finalist in The Great British Bake Off in 2023. He connected chemistry with baking and delivered talks to inspire others to pursue science. After that, Dr Gareth Thomas explained how scientific skills are transferable to other areas of life. Later, students were divided into four groups for the Create a Case activity, led by Sheffield Hallam University.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, the focus was on developing key skills within the food science industry and healthcare sector. The groups started with First Aid Training, with Alan White-Harrison from JHMT, an essential skill that combines scientific understanding with practical workplace application. This was followed by a visit to Cocoa Amore, where students watched a demonstration using the elements of chocolate. The presentation explained the scientific principles behind chocolate-making. They also got to take-away some sweet freebies to award their participation.
Meanwhile, the other half of the students attended a CV-writing session, where they began drafting their own CVs. As it was National Careers Week, this skill was particularly useful, and students were encouraged to continue refining their CVs. At the end of the day, they took part in a Spring Pod session on sustainability, support, and STEM careers with Severn Trent.
On Thursday, students gathered in the theatre to develop their interview skills. The day began with a talk from the Vantage HR Team, who explained what employers look for in an interview. These insights helped students prepare for mock interviews, which were conducted by representatives from Vantage HR, Gateway College HR, College Governors, and Tom King at LLEP.
On Friday, the science students went on a trip to Coventry University. The day was focused on developing laboratory skills, expanding knowledge of food science and technician careers, and learning about health and safety in a laboratory environment. The day began with talks from a Lab Technician and a Dietician, followed by a tour of the university’s laboratories. Students then participated in an interactive session on diagnosing infections and received training on laboratory health and safety before concluding their visit and completing the end of their Science Alternative Work Experience Week.
Find out more about all of our Science courses, across vocational, academic and technical pathways – https://gateway.ac.uk/?s=science